Cozy Camping in the Redwoods
Sightseeing
There's a humbling feeling when you're in the presence of redwoods. A gentle peace envelops you like a fog that drifts in. This peace is found every day at Memorial Park. Its 673 acres provides an opportunity to view outstanding old-growth redwoods and picturesque creek spots. It has picnic facilities, a nature center, a camp store, and campfire programs.
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Memorial County Park
9500 Pescadero Creek RdThere's a humbling feeling when you're in the presence of redwoods. A gentle peace envelops you like a fog that drifts in. This peace is found every day at Memorial Park. Its 673 acres provides an opportunity to view outstanding old-growth redwoods and picturesque creek spots. It has picnic facilities, a nature center, a camp store, and campfire programs.
The park features 40 miles of hiking trails that wind through over 4,000 acres of canyons and uplands. Scattered throughout are patches of oak woodland, wet riparian, and sunny chaparral ecosystems. Among the diverse wildlife and plants in the park, hikers may spot woodpeckers, newts, and flowering calypso orchids in springtime.
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Butano State Park
1500 Cloverdale RdThe park features 40 miles of hiking trails that wind through over 4,000 acres of canyons and uplands. Scattered throughout are patches of oak woodland, wet riparian, and sunny chaparral ecosystems. Among the diverse wildlife and plants in the park, hikers may spot woodpeckers, newts, and flowering calypso orchids in springtime.
The San Gregorio Store is lovable spot to grab a coffee or bottled beer from their diverse, curated selection. Browse the books or listen to live music on the weekends. Open weekdays 11–6 pm, weekends 10–6 pm.
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San Gregorio General Store
7615 Stage RdThe San Gregorio Store is lovable spot to grab a coffee or bottled beer from their diverse, curated selection. Browse the books or listen to live music on the weekends. Open weekdays 11–6 pm, weekends 10–6 pm.
A visit to Harley Farms Goat Dairy is a must! Pet the goats and shop their delicious selection of homemade cheeses, dips, treats, and more. Friday through Sunday, Sante Arcangeli Winery offers wine tasting in the barn.
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Harley Farms Goat Dairy
205 North StA visit to Harley Farms Goat Dairy is a must! Pet the goats and shop their delicious selection of homemade cheeses, dips, treats, and more. Friday through Sunday, Sante Arcangeli Winery offers wine tasting in the barn.
Dog Friendly
North Bean Hollow Beach Trail
Great little trail along the bluffs at Bean Hollow!
Portola Redwoods State Park
9000 Portola State Park RdLook for the “Dog Trail” on the trail map for a dog friendly hike!
Great place to spend the day with the family (dog included!)
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Bean Hollow State Beach
New Years Creek RoadGreat place to spend the day with the family (dog included!)
Pistachio Beach
A great beach nearby Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
Scott Creek
Our favorite place to bring our dog Leroy while his dad gets a surf session in!
Pescadero Point Beach
California 1Our local dog beach.
Cycling
This is a great, easy fire road trail ride. You access the Butano fire road via a locked gate on the east side of Cloverdale Road. The entrance is easy to miss as there is a small access road off of Cloverdale that leads up a 50 meters or so to the locked gate. There are only spots for two cars along this access road so it is often better to park off the side of Canyon Road. From Canyon Road ride a few hundred meters south (towards Butano Park) and you'll see the access to the fire road on your left.
There is an entrance gate for bikes and hikers that goes around the locked gate and you start a very gradual, five mile climb at 5% - 7% that tops out at a small airstrip. There are a few parts that are more than 5% - 7% but this is a pretty moderate climb that you can do in less than an hour or even faster on a road bike.
From the airstrip you can either turn around and go back or cross the airstrip and keep going. You are now on the Butano Ridge, and there are some steeper stretches but in less than a mile you'll come to the Olmo Fire Trail on your right. You can descend this road. The upper part of Olmo is pretty gnarly and I wouldn't do it on a road bike! Even on a mountain bike it is steep, with deep ruts and gravel - so tricky to descend. Once you get past this chalky, gnarly stuff though you end up in Butano State Park and have a beautiful descent through the Redwoods and out the park entrance. Make a right on Cloverdale and ride back to the starting point. Altogether this is a 12.5 mile loop with about 2200 feet of climbing.
Butano Fire Road
Butano Fire RoadThis is a great, easy fire road trail ride. You access the Butano fire road via a locked gate on the east side of Cloverdale Road. The entrance is easy to miss as there is a small access road off of Cloverdale that leads up a 50 meters or so to the locked gate. There are only spots for two cars along this access road so it is often better to park off the side of Canyon Road. From Canyon Road ride a few hundred meters south (towards Butano Park) and you'll see the access to the fire road on your left.
There is an entrance gate for bikes and hikers that goes around the locked gate and you start a very gradual, five mile climb at 5% - 7% that tops out at a small airstrip. There are a few parts that are more than 5% - 7% but this is a pretty moderate climb that you can do in less than an hour or even faster on a road bike.
From the airstrip you can either turn around and go back or cross the airstrip and keep going. You are now on the Butano Ridge, and there are some steeper stretches but in less than a mile you'll come to the Olmo Fire Trail on your right. You can descend this road. The upper part of Olmo is pretty gnarly and I wouldn't do it on a road bike! Even on a mountain bike it is steep, with deep ruts and gravel - so tricky to descend. Once you get past this chalky, gnarly stuff though you end up in Butano State Park and have a beautiful descent through the Redwoods and out the park entrance. Make a right on Cloverdale and ride back to the starting point. Altogether this is a 12.5 mile loop with about 2200 feet of climbing.
Stage Road
Stage RoadPescadero to San Gregorio, with plenty of rolling hills and gorgeous views.
This is simply an out and back ride. A great place to take beginners. The trail is a fire road and great on hot summer days. The ride is mostly in the shade of 2nd-growth redwoods.
Need to Know
There are only a couple steep parts. You may run into a few horses on the weekends.
Description
This is a great ride for beginners. It doesn't receive a lot of traffic even though the close proximity to other parks. To make it really fun for a beginner, stop at Alice's Restaurant, Skyline and 84, on the way back and grab something to eat.
Directions are as follows: from I-280 at Woodside, take Highway 84 west for 13 miles to La Honda. Turn left on Pescadero Road and drive 1 mile, then bear right to stay on Pescadero Road. Continue 4.2 miles to Wurr Road on the left. Turn left and drive 0.25 mile to the trailhead.
History & Background
The Old Haul Road was an old logging route that runs between Pescadero Creek County Park and Portola Redwoods State Park. The historic railroad bed tunnels through a thick forest of second-growth redwoods, providing a smooth, easy ride that gains only 500 feet in elevation.
Old Haul Road
Old Haul RoadThis is simply an out and back ride. A great place to take beginners. The trail is a fire road and great on hot summer days. The ride is mostly in the shade of 2nd-growth redwoods.
Need to Know
There are only a couple steep parts. You may run into a few horses on the weekends.
Description
This is a great ride for beginners. It doesn't receive a lot of traffic even though the close proximity to other parks. To make it really fun for a beginner, stop at Alice's Restaurant, Skyline and 84, on the way back and grab something to eat.
Directions are as follows: from I-280 at Woodside, take Highway 84 west for 13 miles to La Honda. Turn left on Pescadero Road and drive 1 mile, then bear right to stay on Pescadero Road. Continue 4.2 miles to Wurr Road on the left. Turn left and drive 0.25 mile to the trailhead.
History & Background
The Old Haul Road was an old logging route that runs between Pescadero Creek County Park and Portola Redwoods State Park. The historic railroad bed tunnels through a thick forest of second-growth redwoods, providing a smooth, easy ride that gains only 500 feet in elevation.
Food scene
A 5-minute walk from the camper. Homestyle food and espresso bar. Friendly, small-town service. Live music on the weekends!
Our favorites: chocolate croissant, Leftcoast Grassfed Burger, tater tots, cider on tap
Open 11 am to 8 pm Thurs. & Fri ; 10 am to 5:30 pm Sat. & Sun.
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Loma Mar Store & Kitchen
8150 Pescadero Creek RdA 5-minute walk from the camper. Homestyle food and espresso bar. Friendly, small-town service. Live music on the weekends!
Our favorites: chocolate croissant, Leftcoast Grassfed Burger, tater tots, cider on tap
Open 11 am to 8 pm Thurs. & Fri ; 10 am to 5:30 pm Sat. & Sun.
Beloved coastal tradition offering patrons old-school American eats amid its knotty-pine-paneled dining room. Ample outdoor seating available, too.
Our favorites: half artichoke/half green chile soup, french dip, bloody mary, olallieberry pie
Open 12–6 pm Sat. & Sun. | 12–3 pm Mon., Weds., Thurs. | Closed Tuesdays
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Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage RdBeloved coastal tradition offering patrons old-school American eats amid its knotty-pine-paneled dining room. Ample outdoor seating available, too.
Our favorites: half artichoke/half green chile soup, french dip, bloody mary, olallieberry pie
Open 12–6 pm Sat. & Sun. | 12–3 pm Mon., Weds., Thurs. | Closed Tuesdays
A little slice of bliss among the redwoods. Loved by locals, serving burgers, BBQ, & more in a rustic cabin. Live music every Thursday from 5—7:30 pm and Sundays 4—6 pm.
Our favorites: Thai Chili Chicken Pizza, pulled pork sandwich, whatever the special is!
Open Everyday | Monday – Saturday 8–8 pm | Sunday 8–7 pm
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Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline BlvdA little slice of bliss among the redwoods. Loved by locals, serving burgers, BBQ, & more in a rustic cabin. Live music every Thursday from 5—7:30 pm and Sundays 4—6 pm.
Our favorites: Thai Chili Chicken Pizza, pulled pork sandwich, whatever the special is!
Open Everyday | Monday – Saturday 8–8 pm | Sunday 8–7 pm
Fresh California coastal cuisine with local, organic, and handcrafted ingredients. Serves brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Our favorites: Cascade Farm Arugula Salad w/ chicken Milanese, potato bravas, duck confit
Open Everyday | Sunday – Thursday 8–9 pm | Friday – Saturday 8–9:30 pm
Cascade Bar & Grille
2001 Rossi RdFresh California coastal cuisine with local, organic, and handcrafted ingredients. Serves brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Our favorites: Cascade Farm Arugula Salad w/ chicken Milanese, potato bravas, duck confit
Open Everyday | Sunday – Thursday 8–9 pm | Friday – Saturday 8–9:30 pm
Unassuming taco joint/market within a gas station. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover! It’s a local staple.
Our favorites: super California burrito with carnitas, chile relleno plate, churros
Open Everyday | 9–8 pm
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Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos
1999 Pescadero Creek RdUnassuming taco joint/market within a gas station. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover! It’s a local staple.
Our favorites: super California burrito with carnitas, chile relleno plate, churros
Open Everyday | 9–8 pm
The deli counter in this cute store serves up awesome sandos. Don’t miss their famous artichoke bread!
Our favorites: pesto chicken sandwich, artichoke bread, housemade bruschetta
Open Wednesday – Monday 11–5 pm | Closed Tuesdays
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ARCANGELI GROCERY CO/NORMS MARKET
287 Stage RdThe deli counter in this cute store serves up awesome sandos. Don’t miss their famous artichoke bread!
Our favorites: pesto chicken sandwich, artichoke bread, housemade bruschetta
Open Wednesday – Monday 11–5 pm | Closed Tuesdays